The Democrat Party has introduced Anucha Burapachaisri as its candidate for Bangkok governor and is fielding candidates for all 50 districts of the Bangkok Metropolitan Council. Abhisit Vejjajiva stressed the party's longstanding ties with Bangkok residents and highlighted the candidate’s knowledgeable, honest profile free of any blemishes.
On 16 May 2026 at the Democrat Party headquarters, party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, accompanied by Sakolthee Phatthiyakul, a party-list MP and deputy leader overseeing Bangkok, led the team to officially present Anucha Burapachaisri, former Democrat MP for Bangkok, as the candidate for governor of Bangkok. They also introduced candidates for all 50 Bangkok Metropolitan Council seats.
Abhisit said the party’s intention is well known to those following Democrat politics and to Bangkok residents, with whom they have worked closely for a long time. He himself has run for a Bangkok seat four times and served in various roles overseeing the city. He assured the public that the Democrat Party has many experienced personnel deeply connected to Bangkok people. He began by thanking former Bangkok administrators and advisers from the party who joined the event.
He affirmed that the Democrat Party’s work at every forum and location is carried out as a team with shared responsibility. The party closely monitors the performance of its personnel at all levels, both national and local.
“Although recently the people have not given us the opportunity to serve—whether in parliamentary or Bangkok governor elections—that does not mean we must be estranged. In fact, the presence of former administrators here today, along with 50 candidates who have long served as councilors, including some younger individuals with diverse experience, confirms our strong cohesion and readiness to drive Bangkok’s development.”
Abhisit added that some people might have forgotten or were too young to remember that the party had the opportunity to serve Bangkok continuously for four terms. During that time, they were the ones who brought the first electric train to the Thonburi side, despite the central government’s lack of support. The Democrat governors decided it was necessary for residents there to have access to the electric train, and the succeeding Democrat governor continued to expand the network. This exemplifies their commitment to work, even though many say Bangkok’s powers are limited.
He recalled that many generations of Bangkokians remember the effort to establish the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre as a leisure destination. The governor from the party fought to prevent that area from becoming a shopping mall. This reflects the vision and approach of past administrations. Bangkok also now has a large drainage tunnel system, which, although criticized for underuse, is an important infrastructure that helps with water drainage.
Abhisit stated they are moving forward because they truly want to serve Bangkok residents. Even those not political experts acknowledge that the Democrat Party is currently in the opposition. Recent public opinion polls suggest a lack of excitement this round. He asked how they view Bangkok today.
“The current governor gives himself a score of 5 out of 10. I would give him more than 5. Honestly, I believe he is a governor who works earnestly and gives people confidence that someone cares about their wellbeing. However, I affirm that if the Democrat Party gains the opportunity, it won’t be only the governor candidate paying attention to people's problems, but almost everyone here will take on this role as part of the Democrat team.”
He expressed hope that the governor will pursue major projects to make Bangkok greater than it is now. Last week, they continued to push initiatives aiming to establish Bangkok as a center for AI developers. He emphasized Bangkok’s potential and the party’s commitment to realizing it. But those who can do this must be knowledgeable, capable, experienced, and able to work with all parties, since Bangkok’s problems extend beyond the city’s authority. The Democrat Party’s candidates have considered these aspects carefully.
He recounted that when Anucha was in the private sector, the family business faced the 1997 Asian financial crisis and debts of several billion baht. Anucha was entrusted by the family to resolve financial issues, successfully leading the company out of debt, transforming its business model, and enabling continued growth. This demonstrated his managerial skills and experience. He then chose to enter politics, being elected as Bangkok’s representative three times. Thus, he not only has private sector management experience but also direct experience working with Bangkok residents.
Anucha has worked continuously in politics without any blemishes on his record. He is recognized as a politician aligned with the Democrat Party’s ideals, committed to honesty and integrity. Even during times of intense political conflict, he has been able to coordinate and work with all sides despite severe political polarization.
Regarding a period when he was less visible, Abhisit acknowledged having been absent himself at times. But now, there should be no doubt about his commitment to the Democrat Party. Had he not decided to return now, the chance for him to be an MP or hold an administrative position in this term would not be far-fetched. His determination to return and help the party during a challenging time requires wholehearted dedication. He has decided to devote himself to Bangkok residents to make the city greater and transform it into the “City of Eternal Sky.”
Following this, Abhisit officially introduced Anucha as the Democrat Party’s candidate for governor of Bangkok.